A new study suggests that blood test may possibly help detect breast cancer on its early stage through blood serum biomarkers. Such discovery may help breast cancer detection more affordable with fast and more accurate results.
Scientists from the Houston Methodist Research Institute led by biomedical engineer Tony Hu are developing a technology that can detect the presence of blood proteins created by the enzyme carboxypeptidase N (CPN) which is often linked to lung cancer. However, they found that most breast cancer patients showed high levels of this protein.
They tested the new breast cancer blood test technology in mice and some human patients.
"In this paper we link the catalytic activity of carboxypeptidase N to tumor progression in clinical samples from breast cancer patients and a breast cancer animal model," Hu said in a statement. "Our results indicate that circulating peptides generated by CPN can serve as clear signatures of early disease onset and progression."
The researchers took samples of breast cancer tissue from the subjects, identified the stage of each condition, and measured the presence of CPN. They then took blood samples and analyzed the six peptides known to be created by CPN.
Their analysis revealed that those whose blood samples showed peptides created by CPN also have early-stage breast cancer. It was also found on mice two weeks after their breast cancer tissue was detected. The blood tests don't work for those with later stage of breast cancer.
"Even at the eighth week, CPN activity was still significantly higher than baseline," Hu said. "However, we suspect the activity of different enzymes goes up and down as the disease progresses. We will be looking at how we might add known and future biomarkers to the blood test to increase its robustness and accuracy."
The researchers believe that this technology will encourage more patients to submit themselves to breast cancer detection tests. Currently, patients hold off because of the expensive and multiple tests they have to go through such as biopsy and imaging. The breast cancer blood test will cost them only about $10. However, the technology is still on its testing stage and may take a few more years before it is released to the public.
The study was published in the online journal Clinical Chemistry.
